Does trait impulsivity differentiate impulsive from non-impulsive suicide attempts?

Suicide poses a major public health concern, with impulsive suicide and suicide attempts representing a particularly difficult subset of cases for effective suicide prevention. The relationship between impulsive suicidal behavior (ISB) and impulsivity as a trait, which can be assessed by specific questionnaires, is still unclear. This study, therefore aimed to investigate this association by comparing the degree of trait impulsivity as well as clinical and demographic variables in individuals with ISB to those with non-impulsive suicidal behavior (NISB).

We included 130 adult inpatients admitted to a psychiatric ward of three psychiatric hospitals in Thuringia, Germany after a suicide attempt. Three distinct criteria were applied to define ISB, considering time- and planning-related aspects, as well as prior suicidal attempts using the Suicide Intent Scale and a structured clinical interview. Trait impulsivity was assessed using the Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, Sensation- Seeking (UPPS) Impulsive Behavior Scale.

No significant differences in the four UPPS impulsivity components controlling for multiple clinical and suicide specific variables were observed between the ISB and NISB groups across all three criteria as well as in clinical and demographic variables.

These findings underscore the complexity of the relationship between ISB and the various facets of impulsivity. They further highlight the need to improve standardized assessment methods to better identify individuals at risk for ISB and to develop effective intervention strategies to prevent such individuals from engaging in suicidal behavior during acute crises.